Wandering domestic cats are the biggest predator “by a mile” in urban areas, according to Gareth Morgan.

The key to changing that, could lie with a simple pest plan consultation in Manawatu.

The Horizons Regional Council put out its pest management plan for consultation in February, not expecting the response it got.

By the end of the month it received 94 submissions to the plan. Of that, 47 were specifically regarding feral cats and 45 of those were led by New Zealand businessman Gareth Morgan’s Morgan Foundation.

The majority of submissions were not actually from within the Manawatu region.

The submissions request a clear definition of feral cats as any cat without a microchip, collar or harness. They also ask Horizons to approach the government to develop national legislation.

The number of unwanted cats and kittens over the Christmas period has left one SPCA full to the brim.

Every summer, litter upon litter of kittens pour into SPCA clinics across the country, and this year’s no exception.

Over the past month an Auckland clinic has been flooded with the furry friends, receiving as many 30 to 80 a day.

“At the moment we’ve got 450 foster families and each foster family has one or a whole litter of kittens, so it’s probably up around the 600 mark at the moment,” says SPCA Auckland CEO Angela Midgen. Read more »

The Australian government announced plans to cull up to 2 million feral cats by 2020 in a bid to preserve dozens of native species that authorities claim face extinction because of the cats’ predatory behavior.

Speaking to a national radio station, Gregory Andrews, the country’s first threatened-species Commissioner, said Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt “is declaring war on feral cats, and he’s asked me to take charge of that program.”

Hunt unveiled the five-year plan at a Melbourne zoo on Thursday, vowing to protect Australia’s native mammal and bird populations.

“We are drawing a line in the sand today which says, ‘On our watch, in our time, no more species extinction,'” Hunt said.

Prime Minister John Key has calmed fears his government could enforce a strict two-cat-per-household limit, amid fears the popular pets are killing off the nation’s wildlife – including their iconic kiwi bird.

Mr Key, a cat lover himself, also poured cold water on the suggestion that New Zealand, which has the highest rate of cat ownership in the world, would kill all feral cats.

Looks like one of Gareth Morgan’s hit squads is active north of Auckland

Supplied / via NZ Herald

Several gruesome dead cats have been found this week draped over the rail guard and fences near the main road leading to Tapora, east of Kaipara Harbour, disturbing the residents of the small community.

“It’s really horrible, it gave me and my mum a real shock,” said local Kim Powley, 19.

“We were driving on our way to Tapora, and a small black cat was hung over a guard rail. We were shocked but assumed that maybe someone hit it and put it there, so the owners would know what happened to it.

“But about one kilometre from entering Tapora, another cat, black as well, was hung in the same way from a farmer’s fence. This road is a school bus route and these animals were on display for all to see. We were disgusted, as obviously it was no coincidence.”

Dealing to a feral cat problem is one thing, but hanging them over fences isn’t going to keep the locals on board. Read more »

Bird breeder Gavin Wilkinson who humanely trapped a wandering cat that was killing his chickens, is to be applauded for destroying the cat, (See this 3 News Article http://goo.gl/qKTmR ).

We have a terrible hole in our legislation around wandering pets that do damage to our wildlife, destroy other people’s pets when they invade, and spread disease. The SPCA’s stance on defending the rights of cats to wander, kill, and spread disease is inexcusable and those truly concerned about cruelty need to demand that the SPCA returns to its core business – preventing cruelty, not championing Bob Kerridge and his unconditional love affair with cats.

On this matter of wandering cats causing mayhem, politicians are showing their normal cowardice and need to stand up and acknowledge that the law is an ass, people are having to take matters into their own hands and destroy cats that are out of control. 90% of cat owners are totally responsible and acknowledge their cats should be confined, but the 10% who are not, together with Bob Kerridge and this sad SPCA outfit need to be called to order. Their behaviour is not acceptable in a country that values private property rights and the rights of our wildlife not to be slaughtered. If these politicians don’t stand up and be counted then of course vigilante-type action will increase. It is a direct result of political negligence. Read more »